Why I Finally Stopped Hosting Christmas After Years of Doing It Alone

For years, hosting Christmas felt less like a choice and more like an expectation. My home was the largest, so naturally it became the gathering place. Every December, I rearranged furniture, planned menus, and spent days shopping and cooking for a dozen or more people. I told myself it was worth it because it brought everyone together. Still, by the time the last dish was washed and the guests left with leftovers and smiles, I was exhausted—physically, financially, and emotionally. Last year alone, I spent hundreds of dollars and countless hours preparing everything myself, and not once did anyone offer real help.